UK-based injection molder RGE Group plans to open a new plant near San Antonio in early September, partially crediting US tariffs for the new domestic capacity.
The 27,000-square-foot facility at the Park 35 business park in Schertz, Texas, will create around 50 skilled manufacturing jobs. RGE manufactures injection molded plastics for furniture, parts and supplies, as well as reusable plastic pallets.
Company officials told the San Antonio Report that tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump had accelerated an earlier decision to open the company’s first US location, and that many of its customers are also adding American facilities.
Although by press time the company had not responded to a request for comment, its website indicates that RGE recycles plastic scrap from a variety of sources, including PP, nylon, thermoplastic elastomers, and engineered resins such as ABS and PBT, sourced from used packaging and post-industrial scrap from the food and automotive industries, as well as its own production scrap.
An RGE buy-back scheme at the UK facilities also provides feedstock from used plastic products and extra plastic inventories.
As part of its business, the company integrates recycled plastics into engineered compounds for use in “high-end products with complex functionality requirements.”
RGE also tests and validates recycled blends against required EU quality standards for high-performance applications, the site says.
“Following significant growth in recent years, the establishment of our new manufacturing facility in Texas marks a major milestone in RGE Group’s global expansion strategy,” Dan Leach, RGE managing director, said in a statement. “RGE Texas will house advanced moulding machinery capable of producing large and technical mouldings for the North American market. The Greater San Antonio region provides the skilled workforce, infrastructure, and favourable business conditions necessary to support our North American customers.”
